Us states where you can play real money online poker

With so many different states in the USA there will always be a lot of red tape when it comes to online poker. Some states are more progressive than others but, as we enter into 2023, only six states plus shared liquids have legally sanctioned real cash internet poker. They are:

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  • New Jersey
  • Nevada
  • Pennsylvania
  • Michigan
  • Delaware
  • Connecticut
  • New York

This means players in those states can access legal, real-money online poker sites operated by licensed entities. Residents in other states could in theory play online poker, although it would be considered a gray area because federal law makes it illegal for offshore operators to offer the game within US borders.

Can you go to prison for online poker?

Anyone operating an online gaming site from overseas – as most do to circumvent US legislation – breaks the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This is a criminal offense but there’s no suggestion you’d go to prison as a player. We’ve never heard of anyone being arrested for playing online poker in the United States. UIGEA simply makes it “unlawful for any person to knowingly accept payments made by credit cards or electronic fund transfers … for unlawful Internet gambling.” There are no penalties outlined for individuals engaging in this supposedly illegal activity. The focus of the act is on the operators, not the players, of online gaming sites. That said, we advise against playing on dodgy sites. Stick with our recommended sites for each state here on Pokerlistings.

Why are states slow to regulate online poker?

The main roadblock to multi-state agreements has been Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas casino magnate who spent millions trying to get the Restoration of America's Wire Act (RAWA) passed into law. His mission was to outlaw online gambling across the United States. Despite a stellar reputation in bricks & mortar casinos, his lobbying for RAWA made him reviled in online circles. His mission failed when Donald Trump’s administration left the Restore Act for online gambling gathering dust in a draw. After this setback Adelson sold hisimpledots.com domain for what were described as “personal reasons” (widely believed to be because he couldn’t use it to achieve his goal.) He also announced he was selling his LA tech company Simplified Communications ENGD +1.78% to Top-Down Systems for about $7.1 million, after having acquired it in 2012 for $11.1 million. Reports at that time suggested a big profit for Adelson. It appears his mission to ban online gambling was something daddy wanted but Sheldon’s own kids reportedly had no interest in pursuing, freeing him up to follow his passion for art instead.

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With Adelson out of the picture for now, there’s renewed energy around getting state-level poker rooms open to players throughout those states. Poker Atletic City Councilman Maxwell Young has been appointed to lead the new Poarch Creek Indian Gaming Commission. And former New Jersey State Senator Ray Lesniak, longtime proponent of online gambling expansion, joined the board of Open Index, a blockchain-based start-up hoping to disrupt the iGaming industry. Lesniak has been a huge force behind pushing online gaming legislation through the New Jersey state government in years past, working closely with former New Jersey State Governor Chris Christie, who infamously had a veto of a broader online gambling bill overturned by the state legislature. Lesniak also spoke at an eCOGRA event in New Jersey back in 2016. Having like-minded people in these influential positions can only help move things forward. There are other key figures actively advocating for state-by-state talks right now, including former WSOPN champion Martin de Knijff, who recently met with Illinois State Senator Terry Link to discuss bringing online poker to his state. De Knijff argues that seven or eight states running their own separate liquidity-shared networks isn’t viable and that lawmakers in those states stand to lose out on potential revenue if they don’t agree to play nice with each other. “It’s a waste,” he says. “They need to learn from Lisenzio v. Anderson, a Supreme Court case in 1997. If you buy two lots next to each other and you cannot build on one without owning the other, you must offering connected services. That’s how I see it. If California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey don’t link up, New York and newcomer Michigan will have the upper hand."

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What is the current state of online poker in America?

Even though there are more states with legal online poker rooms than ever before, the market remains highly fragmented. As mentioned above, most experts believe that the various state poker markets will remain isolated without some form of reasonable interstate agreement. There have been calls for the dominoes to start toppling after , the largest state in the union, going live with online poker and games in 2021. More than three months after going live with online poker, , which launched in 2019, announced it had taken over $1 million in rake. The next smallest market, Pennsylvania, took half that amount despite being active for an entire year longer. More encouragingly, Michigan online poker and games generated almost $400,00 in rake during February 2022, putting it on track to match Pennsylvania’s total for the full year. If that happens MI will become the second-largest poker market in the United States. Extrapolating the data further, if Michigan continues to grow at the same rate it would overtake New Jersey as the biggest state for poker by 2025. The latest entrant to the US online poker scene is BetMGM, which . That means bettors in Colorado, Pennsylvania and West Virginia can now access its poker platform in those states. So far, however, there has been little appetite for interstate agreements. The main driver behind this lack of enthusiasm appears to be CA, a seemingly perpetual state of limbo for American poker players. More than a decade after it was expected to become the biggest online poker market in the world, still doesn’t have regulatory framework. Instead of waiting for California, or even setting aside differences to combine their much smaller individual market, other states seem content to sit tight and wait for California to make a move - or for another state to make a strong opening offer.

Which US states offer legal online poker right now?

As we mentioned above, there are currently seven states plus a territory that offer legal, licensed, online poker sites to players within their borders. Those states are:

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  • New Jersey
  • Nevada
  • Pennsylvania
  • Michigan
  • Delaware
  • Connecticut
  • New York

That might sound overwhelmingly in favor of New York and players there but the New York Gaming Commission has yet to authorize any online gaming licenses and there is currently no estimated timetable for when that might actually happen. Meanwhile the other four operators mentioned above already have functional sites/apps up and running in their respective states so, technically, players could access them right now unless a site specifically restricts players in that state. However, we always advise playing only on approved, licensed and regulated sites in your state and that's why we've listed them below along with a brief overview of each one.

1. NJ Online Poker Sites

Currently, New Jersey offers the largest poker market in the United States. Several operators left the market after , but the state remains home to five major networks. Although traffic is down significantly from the heady days of 2016/17 it’s still possible to generate decent cash game volumes and the high stakes games are among the juiciest in the world. Even better, NJ shares both player pools and Liquidity Agreement. Currently, the following companies share players:

  • (partners)
  • BetMGM (partners)
  • (partner of BetMGM)
  • (partner of BetMGM)

The MGM-WSOP alliance creates the largest network by a considerable margin. However, it’s worth noting that WSOP|888 does most of the heavy lifting. While there are benefits to the arrangement, it’s fair to say BetMGM isn’t a vital part of WSOP’s operations in New Jersey. On the other side of the fence, it’s PokerStars that’s carrying the Resorts AC banner. Although there are signs that the business is sustainable in its current form, it’s fair to say PokerStars NJ operates in a grey area. Indeed, it’s difficult to understand why PokerStars bothers in New Jersey considering it gets nothing tangible from the relationship. It would come as no surprise if Resorts AC was dropped and PokerStars left the New Jersey market. That would leave WSOP with a local monopoly. However, PokerStars is popular with casual and recreational players so that would be bad news all round. For now, though, players in New Jersey have plenty of options and the regulation provides a solid framework for a safe and secure gaming experience. Approved NJ Online Poker Sites:

2. NV Online Poker Sites

After liquidation of the massive Full Tilt Poker player pool, the Nevada market struggled to gain traction. When , the writing was on the wall. However, there is hope for the market now that the Vegas Golden Knights have proven to be a roaring success in the hockey world and the Raiders have injected some life into the NFL. It’s not impossible to see NV poker sites benefit from the residual effect of these sports teams. Moreover, California could yet become the next stop on the expansion agenda for both teams. If that happens, Nevada’s fortunes could be completely transformed. For now, however, the Nevada poker market is tiny. So tiny, in fact, we wouldn’t recommend playing there unless you live in the state. Why? Well, the regulation is certainly up to scratch and there are some good operators, but the sheer size of the player pool means the games are often dull and unprofitable for serious grinders. It’s better to travel to Europe or the Caribbean and play online from your hotel room than try to squeeze blood from this particular stone. Still, if you must play, only choose sites approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission, such as:

  • (partner of MGM)
  • (partner of Caesars)
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Wsop.com NV shares a player pool with Wsop.com in Delaware (see next). Although it’s possible the site may merge with Delaware Park (which is linked to Delaware’s WSOP site), that would dilute the liquidity between NV sites too much to be viable. Therefore, Delaware Park hosts poker games with just its own players. Approved NV Online Poker Site:

3. DE Online Poker Sites

Another small market, albeit slightly bigger than Nevada. The only two sites currently operational in Delaware are DNCHorseRaces.com and .DE.WSOPplayingsite.com. The first is operated by Scott Taylor’s Contined Energy Services LLC while the Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment owns the second. More importantly, however, is the fact these two sites are merged in a unique way with WSOP Delaware. When , it created a combined player pool that improved liquidity across all three sites. It’s not much but it’s enough to keep the games alive in Delaware. However, this setup doesn’t benefit WSOP’s competitors. Indeed, if WSOP left the market or came to some kind of agreement with Delaware Park, it could suck all the oxygen out of the room and leave myChargePrivacy protected area. This would be bad news for poker players because competition is good for players. Therefore, while the situation in Delaware isn’t ideal, it could be worse. Approved DE Online Poker Site:

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4. PA Online Poker Sites

PA became the fourth state to offer in 2019 and, unlike its east coast counterparts, there is one super site to rule them all. Although it’s too soon to call, PokerStars PA has enough clout to suggest it will dominate the market for the foreseeable future. However, there is scope for others to compete at the lower and mid-stakes levels. As it stands, there are three legal PA poker sites:

  • PokerStars PA (approved )
  • (Partnered with Hollywood Casino)
  • (Partnered with Parx Casino)

Unsurprisingly, PokerStars PA has the highest volume and broadest range of games. MSFTPA has some MTTs and Holland follows in third place. However, this dynamic could change because both Hollnd and Unladened are linked to valuable sports betting brands. As the latter starts to offer marketing incentives and builds its brand, it could pose more of a threat to PokerStars in 2023 and beyond. Of course, PokerStars will fight fire with fire. The question is: will another site emerge to challenge the challengers? For now, Pennsylvania ranks fourth in terms of size but the market has the potential to rival New Jersey if it attracts more operators. Approved PA Online Poker Sites:

5. MI Online Poker Sites

Michigan became the latest state to join the party when its online gaming laws came into effect on January 22, 2021. And, thanks to a couple of big partners, Michigan becomes the strongest challenger to the reigning New Jersey king. Like Pennsylvania, Michigan online poker is currently limited to two small sites and one dominant operator. Also, like in Pennsylvania, it’s the second-biggest site that’s the most interesting. In this case, that’s because it’s partnered with one of the biggest brands in America. As such, it could offer some competition to the new kid on the block. Beyond that, Michigan is significant because it’s a big state. Indeed, in terms of population, it ranks 11th in the USA. More importantly, it puts Michigan ahead of New Jersey, New York (not yet live), Florida (also not live) and Pennsylvania (where PokerStars holds a monopoly). Given that Michigan legalized poker sites that can operate across the country, this could be a big deal. If Michigan-licensed operators are allowed to advertise in neighboring states, it could create a super network. And the operators who’ll push hardest for liquidity sharing across state borders will be the ones with the resources to exploit this opportunity. Finally, it’s important to note that Michigan isn’t Alabama. Locals are enthusiastic about gambling and casinos were popular long before online sites went live in January 2021. Initial reports suggest Michigan players are enthusiastic about online games too. Approved MI Online Poker Sites:

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6. CT Online Poker Sites

Motivated in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut finally launched online gaming, including online poker, in October 2021. Two tribes in the state - Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan - worked together with the state's two commercial casinos to get online gaming legalized, with Gov. Ned Lamont signing the bill in the summer of 2021. Both tribal casinos offer online poker and card games, as well as online sportsbetting, with these sites:

Both sites offer similar selections of cash games and tournaments at low and mid-stakes. As of early 2023, peak evening hours see about 50 players on each site, with full ring Hold’em and Omaha cash games available. Things quiet down considerably in the wee hours of the morning in this Eastern time zone.

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Players on each site occasionally run into user limits during popular events or high-stakes cash games but, otherwise, it’s easy to find a seat or table. To combat small fields and low overall liquidity, the two sites ran a combined $25k Championship event over three days in November 2022. More than 250 entry points created a $312k prize pool and single winner in ‘FishyGuy123’. Single-table tournaments and satellites, both sit-and-go and with scheduled times, offer pathways into most major events. Periodically, sites offer series of tournaments with multi-entry options and phased satellites to build prizepools. A few major operators have signed on to sponsor cash games and tourneys (PokerStars, Triton, and 888poker, for example) which helps boost visibility for online gaming in the Nutmeg State. As of early 2023, the two Connecticut sites combined usually rank somewhere around 12th or 13th in global traffic according to PokerTunnel. Based on those numbers, the Connecticut poker market looks ripe for a third operator to enter and perhaps stir things up a bit. Or maybe even allow a fourth option for players looking to break the duopoly and create a stronger liquidity-share partnership with one of the existing sites.

1. Connecticut Online Poker Site: Sportingtech / Rush Street

OWNERSHIP: Sportingtech, a London-based software provider spun off from Kambi Group, with Foxwoods and Mohegan as owners. FOOTPRINT: Used by BetMGM in the US and Entain brands outside the US. PLATFORM: Proprietary. BACK-END SOFTWARE: Spinney Games. FRONT-END SOFTWARE: Adobe Air. MOBILE: Native iOS and Android apps; Instant Play. SKINS: Just the two casinos using the system in CT, but expect more in the US in 2023. NEW CONNECTICUT POKER BILL WOULD ALLOW FOR LIQUIDITY SHARING AGREEMENTS. Approved CT Online Poker Site:

  • (Connecticut / Foxwoods Casino)
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2. Connecticut Online Poker Site: Playtech / DRA

OWNERSHIP: Playtech via its subsidiary, Simfdice Limited. FOOTPRINT: William Hill, Stars Group, LeoVegas. NetEnt, Betfair, Ladbrokes Coral. PLATFORM: iPoker. BACK-END SOFTWARE: Proprietary. FRONT-END SOFTWARE: HTML5. MOBILE: Native iOS and Android apps; Instant Play. SKINS: Just the two casinos using the system in CT, but expect more in US in 2023. NEW CONNECTICUT POKER BILL WOULD ALLOW FOR LIQUIDITY SHARING AGREEMENTS. Approved CT Online Poker Site:

  • *(Mohegan Sun Casino/MPL)/(Resorts World Catskills) )
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Connecticut Online Poker Traffic Share

According to multiple monitoring services, the action on these two sites is spread pretty evenly, with neither dominating the other. Over the course of a month, each site sees about 50 players at peak evening hours. During the day, that drops to single digits in most games except for the occasional $10 NL rebuy satellite or $20 FLSE sniscores its way onto the schedule.

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The biggest online tournament so far on either site was the $100k Championship event mentioned above, held concurrently on both sites in November 2022. Single entries topped out just under 300, which created a $312k prize pool. Connecticut Law requires all online gaming revenues to benefit the State’s retirement systems for teachers, police officers and fire marshals. Thus, the CT online poker sites donated a total of $117,000 from the championship event to the CT Hope Foundation, which supports those retirement systems. For comparison, the runner-up in that Main Event finished just a hair under $20k and the champ banked $41k - not a bad result for a $100 buy-in. Daily GTDs regularly award seats in the $400-$600 range, with SNGsat and phased satellites offering less expensive routes to the big dance. The sites also offered a variety of Satellites and packages to the partypoker MILLIONS Online event in December 2022. ### How does Michigan online poker compare?

For reference, Michigan’s two online poker sites saw approximately 200 players during prime time in Q4 2022, compared to about 100 during non-peak hours. Their biggest series to date was partypoker’s MILLIONS Online, which offered a $5 million guarantee. More than 1,200 players ponyed up the $5,200 buy-in to set that record. By contrast, the largest single tournament on the CT sites typically tops out around $25k. The partypoker LIVE MILLIONS event did inspire the Connecticut sites to create a $100k Championship event in November 2022, which exceeded that guideline, but it remains to be seen if they’ll pursue similarly large MTIs in the future. With a larger player base, partypoker was able to offer additional Day 1 flights and multiple satellite tracks leading up to the $5k Main Event. It’s unclear whether the Connecticut sites have the liquidity to support that type of series, at least until more operators enter the market or player limits are increased. The PokerStars MI site, on the other hand, routinely sees 300-500 players at peak hours and sometimes tops out at 600. So, it may have sufficient liquidity to copy the bigger partypoker series.

2. NY Online Poker Sites (Expected)

New York is a state of contradictions when it comes to gambling. The city that never sleeps has a vibrant underground poker culture due to its status as a melting pot of national and international talent. High-stakes cash games thrive in private clubs and hotels rooms, which have popped up in spite of the fact it’s illegal to host real money poker games that aren’t licensed. This peculiar situation confuses some, but not those with a grounding in the complex history of . Basically, politics has prevented New York from embracing regulated online poker, daily fantasy sports and sports betting - despite numerous attempts to pass laws. However, former governor Andrew Cuomo surprised everyone by Including online poker and card games in his annual budget bill in January 2022. The bill sailed through the Senate and Assembly and was eventually signed into law in April 2022. Unfortunately, the law is as convoluted as New York politics. Nine entities are eligible to apply for licences and the cost is set at a mind-boggling $12 million per brand. Perhaps more problematic is the fact these rules won't come into effect until April 2023 at the earliest. There's a chance the regulations could be authorized sooner rather than later but nine applications could take months to process - especially if any of the applicants decide to lodge complaints. Even then, operators will still have to complete the integration process before they're allowed to go live. Best case scenario: Late 2023. Worst case scenario: 2024. One positive is the fact NY will allow operators licensed in other states to apply for a temporary six-month license. This should enable PokerStars to hit the ground running. However, it won't be able to strike up a liquidity sharing agreement with operators in other states. This means NY poker sites will struggle to generate the volume needed to compete with the likes of PokerStars Europe. Indeed, governance expert Ian Freeman believes New York online poker could be an $180 million market, but only if they share players with other states. Otherwise, freeman estimates the market could be half that size. Despite these concerns, Governor Kathy Hochul is keen to generate revenue for education and the arts, so progress should be made in 2023. Until then, residents of New York can follow in the footsteps of the city's politicians and break the law ... Or play at offshore poker sites. Approved NY Online Poker Sites:

Not yet active. See above for explanatory text.

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6. MD Online Poker Sites

Online poker is currently illegal in Maryland, despite repeated attempts to change that. The most recent effort came in 2022 when HB0652 received a favorable response from the House Ways and Means Committee. It subsequently passed through the House okay but, as of May 2023, is still making its way through the state senate. Proponents of the bill believe it will generate $14 million in gross gaming revenue and $1.7 million in taxes. Opponents, led by Delegate Eric Ebersole, raised concerns about problem gambling and the vulnerability of minors. Ebersole introduced a similar bill in 2021 and, although it didn’t make it out of committee, it showed there is some momentum behind online gaming in this state. That said, it will likely take a combination of pressure from poker players and reassurances about safety features before this bill becomes law. That may be wishful thinking, but we can dream, can’t we? Approved MD Online Poker Sites:

None at this time.

7. SC Online Poker Sites

Like Maryland, online poker is currently illegal in South Carolina. However, the Department of Revenue released official guidelines for sports betting in 2022 after Governor Henry McMaster signed legislation allowing it in June 2021. This suggests online gambling is slowly making its way through the South Carolina political process.

In addition, the Lowcountry Ante Up website, which keeps tabs on the status of all forms of gambling in the state, reports that Rep. Jason Elliott plans to introduce an online poker and gaming bill in January 2023. Entitled the Interactive Game Room and Interactive Fantasy Sports Act of 2023, H 3655 seeks to legalize a variety of virtual games, including online poker, blackjack and roulette.

According to Ante Up, the bill will allow the South Carolina Education Lottery to offer interactive games on its website. Private companies will also be able to offer poker, table games and slots via app or website if they pay a $250,00 license fee and remit 10% tax on gross revenues. Crucially, this bill defines online poker rooms as “interactive game rooms,” which could pave the way for legalised online poker in South Carolina. However, nothing is certain and this page will be kept updated with the latest information. Approved SC Online Poker Sites:

None at this time.

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Other States

So that’s the lowdown on the US states where online poker is legal. Before we move on to the offenders in the dock, it’s worth mentioning that other states are considering following suit. Among them are: Kentucky, Georgia, Texas and Colorado. Kentucky has already introduced a bill entitled the Kentuckiana Poker Association that would legalize poker sites in the state. It was introduced in January 2023 and, although it hasn’t moved through the Assembly yet, its sponsor, Rep. Adam Bowling, has backing from Kentucky State Representative Jerry Miller.

Representatives John J. Burke II, Bonnie Harrell, Bufferson, Billy Griffey, David Everett, Andy Welch, Jeff Greer, Matt Koch, Ben Phillips, Stan Clouse, Lynn F. LOytet, Rick Rand, Rick Nelson, Chris Freeland, Cluster Howard, Michael Meredith, Jonathan Shell, Susan Beatty, Larry Brown, Kim King Banta, Sanny Overly, Cluster Howard, Michael Meredith, Jonathan Shell, Susan Beatty, Larry Brown, Kim King Banta, Sanny Overly, Cherlynn Stevenson, Attica Scott, Angie Hatton, Jill York, Kelly Smith, Tina J. Matula, Diane L. Williams, McKenzie Wicker, Troy Barnes, Brandon Woefuss, Danny Bentley, Steve Rudy, Ryan D. Quidley, Chris Fugel, Toby Herald, Kenny Imes, Larry Brown Jr., Chris Freeman, Bradfield Schneider, Bart Chilton, Randy Bridges, Ken Upchurch, Troy Hernandez, Robby Mills, John Carney, Tim Goodwin, TJ Connelly, David Arnett, Larry Brown, Kim King Banta, Cluster Howard, Michael Meredith, Jonathan Shell, Susan Beatty, Larry Brown, Mary Lou Marzian, Lynn F. Bechtle, Rick Nelson, Chris Freeland, Cluster Howard, Michael Meredith, Jonathan Shell, Susan Beatty, Larry Brown, Keith Hall, Kim King Banta, Tina J. Matula, Diane L. Williams, McKenzie Wicker, Troy Barnes, Brandon Woefuss, Danny Bentley, Steve Rudy, Ryan D. Quidley, Chris Fugel, Toby Herald, Kenny Imes, Larry Brown Jr., Brian Combs, Bart Chilton, Randy Bridges, Ken Upchurch, Troy Hernandez, Robby Mills, John Carney, Tim Goodwin, TJ Connelly, David Arnett, Richard M. Young, Larry Brown, Mary Lou Marzian, Lynn F. Bechtle, Rick Nelson, Chris Freeland, Cluster Howard, Michael Meredith, Jonathan Shell, Susan Beatty, Larry Brown, Keith Hall, Kim King Banta, Tina J. Matula, Diane L. Williams, McKenzie Wicker, Troy Barnes, Brandon Woefuss, Danny Bentley, Steve Rudy, Ryan D. Quidley, Chris Fugel, Toby Herald, Kenny Imes, Larry Brown Jr., Brian Combs, Bart Chilton, Randy Bridges, Ken Upchurch, Troy Hernandez, Robby Mills, John Carney, Tim Goodwin, TJ Connelly, David Arnett, Richard M. Young - we can’t list all of them, obviously, but it’s a start. The bill calls for a $500,00 application fee and 12.5% tax on gross receipts. Poker would be defined as a game where the operator’s revenue is derived from a rake or fee. Other forms of gambling mentioned in the bill include blackjack, wheel of fortune games, slots and fantasy sports contests.

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Georgia is another state that’s discussed online poker in recent years. Most notably, Former Representative Ron Stephens introduced the Legalized Interactive Gaming Act back in 2017 and again in 2019. However, nothing happened and it seems unlikely anything will happen while Republican Governor Brian Kemp is in office. Texas is another state that divides professional poker players. Anthony Spinella, Jordan Morgan and Matt Berkey are among the pro-online activists, but they face resistance from anti-gamblers like Bill Hartmann. At the time of writing, no bills were pending in the state assembly. Colorado already has legal online poker, sports betting and DFS. A bill entitled House Bill 1320 was submitted in March 2023, which would amend the state gambling laws to explicitly allow online poker. Under the terms of the bill, online poker sites would be subject to the same rules and taxes as online sportsbooks. Proponents of the bill, including Vickie Tonkins, believe it will generate extra revenue for the state.

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Offenders in the Dock: States That Should Be Shamed

Well, that’s your lot for the legally legit states. Sadly, the majority of the USA is currently shut off from the delights of regulated online poker. Does this mean millions of Americans are forced to play at offshore sites and risk breaking the law? Yes, it does. Is there an alternative? Thankfully, yes. The following states may not offer licensed poker sites, but they do offer legal intrastate lotteries, instant games and sports betting. If you value progress and innovation, moving to one of these states may be the best thing you can do for your poker career. If you value perfect pot odds and max rerais, well...you know where you stand. Any juristdiction that denies constituents the chance to exercise their gambling freedom should be ashamed. But the following ten states are a disgrace. Illinois, Louisiana and Maryland all have legal sports betting. Illinois and Maryland are close to passing online poker and gaming bills, which would be a step in the right direction. However, Louisiana’s definition of sports betting doesn’t extend to online options. According to : “All wagers accepted by the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition Authority … on college or professional football, baseball, basketball, poker, and any other contest of chance…are null and void and shall not be recognized.” This, in essence, makes anybody that accepts money for a poker game, online or offline, a criminal. New Jersey is probably the biggest letdown. This is the state that spearheaded the successful challenge to PASPA and paved the way for multi-state sports betting. It also has a burgeoning Atlantic City poker scene. So why isn’t it online? Well,  currently has a poker bill (S3663) on her desk. It passed through both houses of the Assembly earlier in 2023, but Governor Phil Murphy hasn’t said what he’s going to do. However, his body language doesn’t fill us with confidence. During a press conference in March 2023, he said iPoker would bring “great social costs” and “profoundly negatively impact a great number of New Jerseyeans.” This sounds like typical politician speak to us (“I’m in favor of marriage but them gays shouldn’t be able to get hitched”) and we hope he changes his mind. Otherwise, we’ll have to add New Jersey to our naughty list. As things stand, the following states have no form of legal online gaming: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

What Does the Future Hold for US Online Poker?

There’s no doubt Sheldon Adelson wielded a lot of power, but his influence was mostly felt at federal level. Despite his best efforts, no nationwide ban on iGaming, known as the , was ever passed. Indeed, since 2018, there has been more pro-gaming activity at state level. Michigan became the latest state to join the ranks in 2023, leaving five states without ratification: South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin and Texas.

Of these, Georgia and Wisconsin may be closest to changing their minds. As we explained earlier in this guide, Georgia online poker bills have been tabled in 2023 and, although there isn’t much movement, there is some momentum behind iGaming in the Peach State. Similarly, a bill entitled the Wisconsion Legacy of the Badger State Gaming Act of 2023 was introduced in February 2023. This bill would legalize a wide range of online games, from poker and bingo to keno and slots.

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There is no definition of online poker in the bill, but its sponsors, Senators Kathleen Vinehout and Chris Larson, appear